Moved again

Wow, it's definitely been a while since we've updated! Apologies for that, though I have to say we generally don't have much news to share anyway. We have had a couple of fun updates recently however!
First, we moved into bigger digs just about a month ago. We doubled our living space and are almost giddy with excitement at having the room for things like walking around furniture and setting up the sewing machine. We have the first floor of an old house and just love, love, love it. Aside from the benefits already mentioned, it should be noted that we now have space for guests as well, which means you. Yes, you should come visit and soon!
Second, Ryan had the exciting opportunity to go to a capoeira batisado (rather like a convention/regional meeting/practice for capoeiristas in the area) and had a great time. Though he didn't test for his new cord, he did learn all sorts of new moves and exercises for capoeira and got a pair of cordao de oro pants, which look great on him.

Exciting news!

Ryan got the job he was hoping for at Computing Services! He's now the full time Mac specialist on campus and will be moving into his own office soon. We're definitely excited here. It's great for him to have landed a fantastic job doing what he loves at a good place like Wheaton. He already knows all his co-workers, he's built relationships with the faculty on campus with whom he'll be working, and he feels so at home there. We really can't imagine anything better.
Congrats Ryan!

A very long, very rant-y post

I received this email today. I am floored. I was about to say "apologies to those who agree with CFC", but that would be lying. There is no excuse for this kind of behavior.
This is the email they sent to me:

New President betrays basic human rights! Moves to increase abortions and re-institutionalize discrimination in America!

Dear Friend, President Barack Hussein Obama is quickly moving to increase abortion on demand and re-institutionalize discrimination in America by giving admitted homosexuals special privileges! One of first moves pushes social issues to the top Supporting Stem Cell Research: President Obama and Vice President Biden believe that we owe it to the American public to explore the potential of stem cells to treat the millions of people suffering from debilitating and life-threatening diseases. Obama is a co-sponsor of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007, which will allow research of human embryonic stem cells derived from embryos donated (with consent) from in vitro fertilization clinics. These embryos must be deemed in excess and created based solely for the purpose of fertility treatment. Reproductive Choice (Abortion) Supports a Woman's Right to Choose: President Obama understands that abortion is a divisive issue, and respects those who disagree with him. However, he has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women's rights under Roe v. Wade a priority in his Administration. He opposes any constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's decision in that case. Preventing Unintended Pregnancy: President Obama was an original co-sponsor of legislation to expand access to contraception, health information, and preventive services to help reduce unintended pregnancies. Introduced in January 2007, the Prevention First Act will increase funding for family planning and comprehensive sex education that teaches both abstinence and safe sex methods. The Act will also end insurance discrimination against contraception, improve awareness about emergency contraception, and provide compassionate assistance to rape victims. Support for the Homosexual Community:"While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect." -- Barack Obama, June 1, 2007 Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. President Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, President Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law. Fight Workplace Discrimination: President Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees' domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. The President also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights. Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: President Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples. Repeal Don't Ask-Don't Tell: President Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. The President will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals. Expand Adoption Rights: President Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not. Promote AIDS Prevention: In the first year of his presidency, President Obama will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities. The President will support common sense approaches including age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception, combating infection within our prison population through education and contraception, and distributing contraceptives through our public health system. The President also supports lifting the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. President Obama has also been willing to confront the stigma -- too often tied to homophobia -- that continues to surround HIV/AIDS. Empower Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS: In the United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. President Obama introduced the Microbicide Development Act, which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. Microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections. It is now time to act, this not the time to give up! We have been in worse situations before! The first elected African-American president risks embarrassing himself and our nation with his extremist agenda! Take action right now, let President Obama that he is taking America in the wrong direction! Tell him to do everything in his power to protect innocent unborn human life and oppose re-institutionalizing discrimination by giving special privileges to admitted homosexuals! It is time to ask your friends and family who have not been engaged to get involved. This is not the time to quit. It is a time to act! Our children and grandchildren are counting on us!

And my response, which I have no doubt will be promptly thrown away, but was the only way I could try to get over my frustration and disgust with this.




CFC,
In response to your most recent email, I must say I am disgusted. With Obama? Actually, no. With you. I am disgusted with the fact that someone could manage to find the points you listed betrayal to basic human rights. I mean really, isn't promoting AIDS prevention a good thing? And how is banning workplace discrimination "re-instituting discrimination"? What you say makes no logical sense. I read this entire email thoroughly and I'm frankly disgusted at the emotionally-charged propaganda you are dispersing. At the expense of basic logic, you twist facts around and then proceed to pepper them liberally with all sorts of hot-button catch-phrases in an attempt to ruffle the feathers of your readers into sending angry (and I would suspect ill-informed) letters to our national leaders. Are you just sore over the fact that your candidate of choice didn't win? I did not vote for Obama either, but in the recent weeks, I find that I am quite ashamed of how those who disagree with him are acting, and your association raises my esteem for them no higher. I find your emails insulting to my intelligence, ridiculously laden with meaningless hype and emotional button-pushing, and just plain silly.
Please, for the sake of your reputation and the sanity of your readers, reconsider your so-called "reporting" methods and consider finding something real to talk about.
- Kate Metcalf



I'm appalled. Misinformation, propaganda, hype, and divisiveness: these are a few of my most hated things. I know there are plenty of people who will disagree with Obama over things like homosexual marriage bans, abortion, etc., and that is fine. People are entitled to opinions and I believe these issues are things that are going to be issues for a long time. So be it. The problem is that they are doing everything they can to push Evangelical hot-buttons in an attempt to stir up all sorts of anger and hatred against our new president. Earth to you all, he is our president and there's not a whole lot you can do about that now, so rather than trying to be such hate-mongers, find something more constructive to do, like work with our current administration to find possible solutions. Firing this junk into the inboxes of Christians throughout the nation does nothing but to divide further and it is exactly that division that keeps us from being effective in working against actual crises like hunger, trafficking, genocide, and corruption - those things which are completely forgotten in the petty arguments that Christians would rather occupy themselves with.

I'm appalled. Just appalled.

Happy New Year!

And best wishes to everyone in the coming year.

Ryan's birthday!

Ryan's birthday was two days ago, the 16th. Happy birthday!
On the night of his birthday, we went out to Muldoons, a local Irish pub, with several of his friends and had an all-around good time. The food was fantastic and all the guys seemed to enjoy the party.
Then last night, Ryan and I celebrated again on our own, going to Red Robin, thanks to his parents for giving him a gift card for his birthday, and then seeing Quantum of Solace at the theater. It was quite the action movie! We both enjoyed it quite a bit.
It's hard to believe that Christmas is only a week away! Ryan and I will be spending Christmas with some friends of ours in Grayslake and then are going to Indiana to visit Ryan's family on the weekend after Christmas.

I can't stop!

This song is infections!
The video is admittedly a bit weird, so just don't bother watching it.
Enjoy!
Brett Dennen - Make You Crazy

Hello!

Ryan and I decided to start a blog to keep up with all of our far-flung friends, and here it is. The plan is that we'll update this occasionally so you can keep up with us as well. Wish us luck!

Christmas is on its way and Ryan and I have been doing a lot of decorating and preparing. We bought a little tree, artificial unfortunately, and put all of our ornaments up. It was so much fun to look through the ornaments that we have both collected over the years and share stories. Both of our families have a tradition of each person buying a new ornament every year, so Ryan and I already have a nice, widely varied, little set. They perfectly fill out our tree. We decided to continue the tradition and bought our first ornament together - a star tree-topper made out of capiz, a shell from the Philippines. It is so beautiful with light shining through it. We love it!

I'll try to post pictures once I get a chance (and find my camera cable).

Happy (late) St. Lucia day!